Tuesday, April 19, 2016

In the past, when you turned 30 your were a nobody unless you had won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Thirty was getting very close to when you had to have a mid-life crisis.

At present, the Baby Boomer cohort has made several changes as they pass through. Life now begins after 40. Levis have a scouch more room.

In the future, you will have to be 70 to run for President of the United States. Franklin Roosevelt proved that you could be president for as long as you wanted. Harry S Truman proved that anybody could become President. Dwight David Eisenhower proved that the country didn't need a president until Barack Obama provided such a convincing counterexample.

At present, the United States Constitution is considered a living document. The 35 years in the Founder's document should be reinterpreted as a mature adult. Ronald Reagan was elected as a mature adult. Donald J. Trump qualifies on age. Senator Cruz should not be expected to be much more mature than Barack Obama.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

The child-custody provisions of SB 668 put parents on equal
footing during child-custody determinations. Existing law declares a vague
public policy that each minor child have “frequent and continuing contact” with
both parents after they separate or divorce. What this public policy means can
vary from judge to judge.

The bill replaces the vague policy, with a requirement that
courts begin a custody determination with the premise that a child should spend
“approximately equal time” with each parent. The court must then take into
account a child’s best interest by considering 20 statutory factors that are
based on current law. Finally, the bill requires courts to explain their child-custody
determinations in writing.

The changes to the child-custody law are driven by well-known
societal changes. For example, there are more two income households than ever.[1]
Women are more likely than men to have a college degree, and women are pursuing
more graduate degrees than men.[2]
Forty percent of households with children have a female breadwinner, a dramatic
increase since 1960.[3]
Additionally, fathers have become more active in raising their children.[4]

Unfortunately, many incorrect statements and specious
arguments have been made about what SB 668 says and how the bill will affect
children and custody litigation. The remainder of this document identifies and
responds to the common misstatements and specious arguments.